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  2. US Air Force helicopters visit HMAS Darwin

US Air Force helicopters visit HMAS Darwin

26 June 2014

Able Seaman Aviation Technician Aircraft (ABATA) Wayde Silcock (right) and ABATA Andrew Woolfe remove chains used to secure the United States Air Force Pave Hawk helicopter to HMAS Darwin's flight deck.

Leading Seaman Aviation Technician Aircraft Tammy Rodgers uses hand signals to assist with the United States Air Force Pave Hawk helicopter to land on HMAS Darwin's flight deck.

Two United States Air Force Pave Hawk helicopters take it in turns of landing and taking off using the flight deck of HMAS Darwin.

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HMAS Darwin has hosted two United States Air Force (USAF) helicopters during maritime security operations in the Middle East under Operation SLIPPER.

The Pave Hawk is based on the Black Hawk platform and is similar to HMAS Darwin’s Seahawk.

The Black Hawk platform’s commonality means spare parts may be sourced from coalition partners in theatre which can save valuable time and resources.

While onboard, the USAF crews took advantage of the opportunity to work with HMAS Darwin’s deck team honing their small deck landing skills.

The 303rd ERQS operate out of Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti and is equipped with the HH-60G Pave Hawk for Combat Search and Rescue, as well as MEDEVAC tasking.

Their specialist equipment includes an air-to-air refuelling boom, forward-looking infra-red camera, weather radar, long range fuel tanks and the Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment (PAVE) which gives the variant its name.

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